how have i used my voice today?

“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.”

“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”

Take 5 full minutes to make a list of all the words that describe your “voice” and what issues and values are most important that you use your voice to speak about.

Today, do you feel like you’ve shared your voice authentically or been subdued by fear and doubt? Think of a specific moment. What happened immediately after speaking, or after being silenced: what thoughts flooded your head, where did your eyes or arms go, what feelings came into your chest or stomach or throat? How did others react around you?

Take another full 5 minutes and re-create the scene (either exactly as it happened or as you wish it had – feel free to elaborate) using specific, descriptive words, as if it were a poem or beginning of a dramatic novel or screenplay. Share it with a friend!